Automatic stabilizing mechanism.



E. RABICK. AUTOMATIC STABILIZING MECHANISM.

Patented May 30, 1916.

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E. RABICK. AUTOMATIC STABILIZING MECHANISM. Paten'ted Mayan; 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV- 30. 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV- 30. 1915. I 1 185 536 Patent-ed May 30, 1916.

., s SHEETSSHEET3- EDWARD RABICK, OF STAFFORD, OREGON.

AUTOMATIC STABILIZING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 Application filed November 30, 1915. Serial mi. 64,310.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD Ramon, a citizenof the United States, residing at Stafford, in the county of Clackamasand State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Stabilizing Mechanisms, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying machines of theaeroplane'class, and particularly to automatic stabilizing devices formaintaining the lateral equilibrium of flying machines of thischaracter.

One object of the invention is to provide a flying machine embodying acar serving: as a pendulum weight and a gliding structure" pivotedthereto for relative lateral motion, together with stability planes orsurfaces adapted to be operated by the relative motion produced betweenthe car and gliding surface when the latter moves out of the balancedposition, whereby these stabilizing planes will be automaticallyadjusted to return the machine to a state of normal balance orequilibrium.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction andorganization of controlling elements, whereby an efficient type ofautomatic balancing mechanism is produced.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings in which Figurel is a front elevationof a flying machine embodying my invention, showing the parts in normalpositions Fig. 2. is a sectional plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is afragmentary vertical transverse section. Fig. 4 .is a longitudinalsection on line H of Fig. 1. Figs. Sand 6 are views illustrating thebalancing operations.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the machine, which,in the present instance, is of the nacelletype, and I is suitablyconstructed to receive...the pilot,

passenger or passengers, if any, the motor 3, p

and the fuel tank and other weightyelements of the craft and load,.whereby the car in practice is adapted to serve the function of apendulum weight and to maintain its normal position by gravity. Thisbody may be equipped with the usual rudders, and' as shown is providedwith a pair of spaced and suit-ably braced bearing standards L and frontand rear bracing posts 5 and 6.

Supportedby and upon the body is a gliding structure 7, shown in thepresent instance as of the biplane type, and provided centrally withV-shaped bearing standards having depending vertex portions, which areprovided with apertures for the passage of a rod or shaft 8, passingalso through apertures in the standards 4, and forming planes 9' and 10thereof, which planes may have any desired lifting curvature. Bracingwires or cables 11 and 12 connect the front and rear portions of thegliding structure, on opposite'sides of its longitudinal center, withthe front and rear posts 5 and (3. whereby the parts are more securelyreinforced and braced. without interfering with free relativepivotal-motions between the'car and gliding structure. The posts andstandards may be reinforced from the car body by suitable braces 13, asshown. Springs 14 are arranged at the opposite sides of the glidingstructure ,and connect the same with the opposite sides of the body, andthese springs have a counteracting action and are of sutlicicnt strengthto normally hold the gliding structure from pivotal motion when saidgliding structurois at rest as upon the ground or upon the surface of abody of water, withoutinterfering with the tilting motions -which may beproduced by variations of air-pressures upon the wings of the supportingsurface. For the purpose of maintaining lateral stability, stabilizingsurfaces, such as ailerons 15 and 16 are pivotally mounted upon thegliding structure on I opposite sides of the longitudinal center ofsaidstructure and preferably in proximity to the outer rear cornersthereof. These ailerons are hinged or pivoted to tilt in a verticalplane, and

are coupled for movement in unison by an upper cord or connection 17passing through guide openings 18 in the upper plane at points inadvanceof the ailerons and having its intermediate portion extendinglongitudinally along the upper surface of said plane. The ailerons arealso connected by lower controlling cords or cables 1.9. and 20 withopposite sides of the body 1, the respectivecords 19 and 530respectively passing from the undersurfaces of the ailerons at theirouter free ends forwardly over the surface of the lower plane, thencethrough guide members 22, thence inwardly along the upper surface of thelower plane and downwardly through guide openings 23 therein beneath theplane to the opposite sides of the body, to which they are'suitablyattached at their inner or forward ends. It will be observed that theintermediate portions of these cords or cables are arranged in lappingrelation the cord or cable 19 of the right hand aileron being connectedwith the left side of the body While the c'ordor cable 20 from the leftaileron is connected with the right hand side of the body.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when themachine is in straight away flight and normally balanced, the glidingstructure is disposed in a horizontal position or at the correct flyingattitude and the controlling cords l9 and 20 are arranged to maintainthe ailerons in neutral or non-acting position. If, however, the glidingstructure should be tilted so as to be depressed at the lefthand sideand elevated at the right hand side, it will be evident that a relativemotion between the car and gliding structure will be established,whereby the cord 20 connected with the aileron at the right hand sidewill be relaxed, while the cord 19 connected with the aileron at theleft hand side will be drawn upon to effect a depression of the lefthand aileron and GlGVtljlOll of the right hand aileron by which alifting action will be secured at the left hand side and a depressingaction at the right hand side. to restoreithe machine to a state ofbalance or equilibrium. Similarly, if the gliding structure should tiltlaterally in the opposite direction, a reverse action of the cords andaileron would take place, resulting in a depression of the right handaileron and elevation of the left-hand aileron to restore the balaiiceof the machine, the springs 14. in these operations yielding to permitof the described relative motions between the body and glidingstructure, while serving to maintain the gliding structure in a normalhorizontal position, when the machine is traveling in still air or issubjected at all points to substantially equal lifting pressures. By theconstruction of balancing mechanism described a simple and efi'ectiwcontrolling means is provided which may be applied to any ordinary typeof craft and which is not liable to get out of order.

I claim 1. A flying machine including a weighted body, bearingsprojecting upwardly from the body, posts projecting upwardly from thebody in front and rear of the bearings, a gliding structure providedwith bearing members pivotally connected with the firstnamed bearings toadapt the gliding structure to tilt laterallyin either direction withrelation to the body, flexible bracing connections between the frontandrear portions of the gliding structure and the said front and rearposts, balancing surfaces upon the gliding structure at opposite sidesthereof, springs connecting the body and glid: ing structure to oppose ayielding resistance to the tilting of the latter, and means controlledby the pivotal movements of the body for adjusting the balancingsurfaces. 2. A flying machine including a weighted body, superposedsupporting surfaces of the biplane type, the upper surface beingprovided with a pair of guide openings, and the lower surface with apair of guide opcnings and guide members laterally beyond said guideopenings, said surface being pivotally mounted for relative lateraltilting motions upon the body, springs connecting the supporting surfacewith the body to oppose a yielding resistance to the tilting of thegliding structure in either dire tion, balancing planes pivotallymounted at the opposite sides of the gliding structure, a connectionbetween said balancing planes movable through the guide openings in theupper supporting surface, and flexible connections leading from thelower portions of the balancing surfaces forwardly and through saidguide members upon the lower surface, thence inwardly along said surfacepast each other in lapping relation, and thence downwardly through theguide openings in the lower supporting surface and connected with theopposite sides of the car.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD Ramon.

Witnesses C. H, DYE, VERA J, llnxourons.

Copies-of thiis patent may be ebtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commirsaioner of Iatenta,

- Washington, 1). 2.

